Ishihara: “Quake is Divine Retribution Against Japan”

Former novelist and governor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishihara has proclaimed the recent earthquake and tsunami are divine punishment (“tenbatsu”) for the sinful depravity the Japanese people now embody.

Asahi press club journalists quote him as saying the following when asked “How should the Japanese people view the quake?” in connection with the recent power trouble:

The identity of the Japanese people is greed.

This tsunami represents a good opportunity to cleanse this greed, and one we must avail ourselves of.

Indeed, I think this is divine punishment.

When asked by an incredulous journalist as to whether this was an imprudent utterance better not reported, he responded “It may be harsh for the victims to hear, but I want you to take it down and report it.”

mods, I edited the wording slightly because it might be triggering for some. and just... /facepalm to eternity.

edit: Regarding Sankaku - I do realise they're nto the most reliable source however I did have half a mind of translating the actual Asahi article this comes from but that made me even more enraged because he says more idiotic things like "America's identity is liberty. France's identity is liberty, equality and fraternity. Japan doesn't have any sense of that. Just greed. Greed for nothing but money." and "This selfishness is also bound with populism. This tsunami washing everything away was necessary. For many years the hearts of Japanese people have been with the devil." It's enough to make you wonder why there are people like HIM, seriously.